Jan Agulto

Visual Experiment – No. 4 / 2013.

Mon, 27 May 2013 22:01:51 +0100

Visual Experiment – No. 4 / 2013.

Visual Experiment – No. 1 / 2013.

Mon, 27 May 2013 18:22:22 +0100

Visual Experiment – No. 1 / 2013.

Visual Experiment – No. 2 / 2013.

Mon, 27 May 2013 18:22:00 +0100

Visual Experiment – No. 2 / 2013.

Visual Experiment – No. 3 / 2013.

Mon, 27 May 2013 18:22:00 +0100

Visual Experiment – No. 3 / 2013.

Desk-survivalist-everyday-carry / 2013. 1. Wallet, 2. Phone, 3....

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:09:00 +0100

Desk-survivalist-everyday-carry / 2013.

1. Wallet, 2. Phone, 3. Player, 4. Earphones, 5. Keys, 6. Watch, 7. Tracker, 8. Pen, 9. Notebook, 10. Drive.

Dreamer (title sequence) / experimental animation / 2009. Music:...

Sat, 11 May 2013 15:53:00 +0100

Dreamer (title sequence) / experimental animation / 2009.

Music: Yeah That’s Right, by Eggboy (Diego Mapa), from 50 INSTRMNTLS N A WK.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / 2013.

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:28:58 +0000

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / 2013.

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:20:05 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:19:53 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:19:45 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:19:38 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:19:30 +0000

Binondo / 2012.

As Far As We Got—So Far, So Good / press release / A3 risograph...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:10:48 +0000

As Far As We Got—So Far, So Good / press release / A3 risograph print / 2012.

As Far As We Got—So Far, So Good / press release / A3 risograph...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:10:44 +0000

As Far As We Got—So Far, So Good / press release / A3 risograph print / 2012.

END

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:20:21 +0100

This is the end. Everything that I have learned and experienced, both in failure and success, have all been for this. As we come to an end, our knowledge and skills will be tested against the reality of entering the competitive industry for the first time. There is nothing that could have prepared me any better than this course, and the individuals that trained and guided me. Three years ago, I never thought I will end up here. I never planned to be a graphic designer. It never once crossed my mind to pursue a career in the creative industry, until I was introduced to graphic design back in college. My idea of graphic design back then was mostly superficial - without any knowledge or regard on how the things I have created will impact the people around me. In my three years of pursuing this degree, I have learned a lot of things that led me to rethink my views about what ‘good design’ is. Aesthetic beauty use to be good enough for me to describe a design as ‘good’. But as I become gradually exposed to the thinking and reasoning behind a design, I have grown a new found respect for creating intelligent and responsible designs - designs that engage the viewer to communicate and respond - to influence them positively.

Looking back, I don’t think I was particularly a good student. I was probably not the most reliable. I am fortunate enough to be consistent with my academic grades, but I know there are others who are much better than me. In groups, I often stayed quiet and always preferred to listen than to speak. On the occasions that I speak, I say what I think. It is probably sometimes misunderstood as arrogance, but I have always made an effort to be direct and sincere. I do not think I had the biggest ideas, or the most ambitious. I have always done something for the simple reason of wanting to do it. I was stubborn enough to often pursue an idea to its very ends, without regard to whether I will succeed or not, or how it will reflect on my academic performance. All that mattered to me is that I tried something I believed deserves our attention - something I believed we were ought to do as graphic designers. Towards the end of my year, I decided to look back at what I have retained from the things that I have learned. A lot of these ideas I have kept and continue to rely on, because they were taught to me as being right. But there are some that I truly valued, because they taught me how to think, and not what to think. These are the ideas that made me see the world differently.

As I progressed through the year, I had doubts whether I will be a graphic designer - a good graphic designer. There will be other students who shares the same aspirations as I do. To be able to stand out and matter in this profession will be a difficult challenge, and success is uncertain. Up until to this point, everything has all been about academic achievements - getting good grades and building a decent portfolio. But on your final year, you realise that to be able to “make it”, you will need more than the good marks and portfolio to be able to represent and introduce yourself out there. Nobody desires to end up mediocre. Everyone wants to be the best at what they do - to be able to say that they matter, and that they are needed. I am no different. To this day, I still have doubts whether graphic design is truly for me. I want to do something for the love of doing it, and not for anything else. To do it for the rest of my life and not regret it.

The students I have met here, and the friends I have made, are some of the best graphic designers I know. It was a pleasure to work beside these people - to learn with them, laugh with them, argue with them, help them, and sympathise with them on times of adversity. We all have gone through the same experience, and we have all known each other very well. As a group, we have been criticised for being safe and not being able to take risks with our designs. But I disagree. Everything we have done are with risks. In every decision we make, we are constantly gambling our lives, often uncertain of how it will turn out. Because we know that whatever we do here will decide our fate. There is no greater risk than putting your entire future on the line. I can vouch for anyone that I have known here and say that we take as much risk as any maverick would. These students will be some of the best graphic designers you will meet, as I have known them to be. Some of them have the ambition enough to take over the world.

I have never been good at thanking people in person. But I am grateful to the people who have taught me the things I value today. To Sue, the most lovely eccentric tutor I ever had, thank you for looking after us in our first year. To Liz, the most reliable tutor there is, thank you. To Hitch, who never fails to see potential in even the most simplest idea, thank you. To John, who gave us the opportunities to be the best we can possibly be, thank you. To Clinton and his encyclopaedic knowledge, I feel we can talk about anything endlessly, thank you.

Year Overview, Journal 2011–2012.

Here’s a B-side of a design I did recently for The...

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:15:00 +0100

Here’s a B-side of a design I did recently for The International 3 and Malgras|Naudet - the one that didn’t make the cut. I was going to post the one that did, but it will be better if I leave that for the show. Come and see the work tomorrow night. RSVP here.

As Far As We Got / So Far, So Far So Good

A show of work by recent graduates from Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Preston and Sheffield concurrently showing across two spaces.

Preview: Friday 26 Oct, 6-8pm at The International 3 / 7-9pm at Malgras|Naudet
Open: 27 Oct - 28 Nov, Wed 12-3pm / Thu and Fri 12-5pm / and by appointment
More on asfaraswegotsofarsogood.tumblr.com.

As Far As We Got

Ali Gunn / Rebecca Kevill / Lucy McCall / Robyn McGowan / Rachel Pursglove / Rafal Topolewski / Marian Torres

The International 3,
8 Fairfield Street,
Manchester,
M1 3GF

So Far, So Good

Jan Agulto / Topical Jungle / Cerlin Karunaratne / Daniel McMillan / Higgins & Renshaw / Naomi Tattum / Martin Walsh / Lucas E. Wilson

Malgras|Naudet,
66-72 Chapeltown Street,
Manchester,
M1 2WH

Today, the democracy of the Philippines is being impeded by the...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:53:00 +0100

Today, the democracy of the Philippines is being impeded by the enforcement of ill-considered provisions under Republic Act No. 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. It threatens the freedom of every Filipinos to express themselves and speak their opinions.

Although the Act tries to address legitimate problems in new media, the vindictive inclusion of the libel clause violates the freedoms of our Constitution that many before us had fought for, and died for.

This is a real concern. We can never afford to be silenced again.

― J. Agulto

Hindi na muling pasisiil.

Order / Graphic Design Excess / 2012. A Declaration of Reason...

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:14:28 +0100

Order / Graphic Design Excess / 2012.

A Declaration of Reason and Purpose

1. Design less, but better.

Concentrate on the essentials. Leave behind what is not needed. Design is better when it is not over burdened by technique and process. Make every aspect of the design matter by putting care and consideration on every detail. Nothing must be put at random. Let the design breath. Allow some space for the mind to consume the design slowly, and it will become more effective in communicating what you intended.

2. Design is neither solely text, or image.

Design is a marriage of both. They cannot be separated from each other. Text is as much as important as the image. One always compliments the other. They need to exist harmoniously, and create seamless transition from text to image. Treat text as image, and image as text.

3. Design is a tool.

For design to be useful, it needs to have a purpose. Purpose will come from the solution. We are problem solvers. Our profession matters because we provide creative and effective solutions to visual and communication problems. What we make is defined by its function.

4. Design must not be compromised.

Produce designs that are not compromised by trends, style, or the fashionable. Avoid following what is cool. This will only limit your thinking and practice. Instead, try to create based on what will work, what is appropriate, and what is required. Function over style. Always.

5. Design must be responsible.

Be responsible for your own designs. What you put out there will impact and affect everyone around you. Consider how your designs will be consumed. Only produce designs that will contribute to the collective good of your surrounding. Our world is already overloaded with excessive information and visual pollution. Do not be part of the problem.

6. Design must also be honest.

Do not attempt to manipulate the consumer by providing false information. Only present what is true. Do not embellish what is real to deceive, and to sell something it is not.

(Dieter Rams)

7. Design is not about selling.

Do not let commercial work define design. Our profession is more than the business of advertising, product marketing, and brand development. Commercial work has always paid the bills, but many graphic designers have now let it become what graphic designers do. Our talents largely used to manufacture demands for things that are inessential. There are pursuits more worthy of our skills. Unprecedented environmental, social and cultural crises demand our attention. Reverse your priorities in favour of more useful, lasting and democratic forms of communication.

(First Things First Manifesto 2000)

8. Design is good, if you use it wisely.

As graphic designers, art directors, and visual communicators, what we do has a far more greater effect than to simply grab attention. We influence people’s decisions, how they think, how they communicate, and how they see the world. Our designs have a power to direct. Design cannot change the world on its own. But it can help inspire it.

9. Design can help determine our future.

Consider the lifecycle of your design. Account for how the design will be manufactured, how it will be used, how it will be disposed, and where it will end up after. Help minimise physical and visual pollution by making sure your designs do not become part of the waste. Help with the preservation of our environment for the betterment and certainty of our future.

10. Design to inspire.

Whatever you decide to do, always use your talent and skills to inspire. Good designs are the ones that make you think, make you feel, and spark imagination.

Free / Graphic Design Excess / 2012. This is the Anti-Manifesto....

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:14:00 +0100

Free / Graphic Design Excess / 2012.

This is the Anti-Manifesto. The counterculture, opposed to the need to control our actions with set of rules to define and regulate what we do as creatives. Let your actions not be limited by what others deemed to be right. Follow your own intuition. Postpone judgement and criticism. Be open to new directions and thinking. Break boundaries, and explore ideas beyond what is presented in front of you. Ask questions, and challenge everything that restricts your creativity and discovery of the new and the bold.

This is the creed of the free and the open. Your rules do not apply here.